Arizona evenings are nice and cool and therefore the perfect time of year to cozy up around an outdoor fire drinking hot chocolate and roasting marshmallows at your very own outdoor fire pit.. However, here in Arizona there are some burn restrictions that must followed. Before you light your fire, please consult the Maricopa County Air Quality Department. Below is the website for your reference:
http://www.maricopa.gov/aq/divisions/compliance/dust/Burning_Activities/faqs.aspx
Once you’ve obtained all the proper permits, here’s how to start:
Determine The Size And Location
The first order of business is to choose where to build your outdoor fire pit. You want to make sure it’s not too close to the house or overhanging trees.
Once you’ve found the spot, lay out a ring of stones and mark it with a shovel before you dig the hole. You’ll want it to be between 35-45 inches in diameter. This will allow a roaring fire, but it will also feel cozy and intimate.
Dig The Pit And Make A Trench
Make a hole six inches deep within the circle your marked using your stones. You want the sides to be straight and the bottom flat. Then dig down an extra six inches around the perimeter.
This trench should be wide enough to fit a ring of stone blocks that will be the base of your wall. Fill the six-inch deep trench with drainage gravel until it’s level with the center of your pit.
Lay The Stone Blocks
Lay out the stone blocks on top of the gravel. Place the first one and use a level to make sure it’s sitting squarely. Set the second block next to it and so on. Use a level to ensure everything is even.
For the second layer, squirt masonry adhesive in a snaking pattern and center a block on top of the seam of the first layer. Build up the wall until it’s about one foot above ground level.
Finish It Off
Fill the pit with gravel until you reach ground level. The gravel will help the base of the walls set straight. If you want to cover the outside of the pit walls with stone cap pieces, then try to fix them together like a puzzle using masonry adhesive.
Then you can either build a fire on top of the gravel or insert an iron campfire ring into the center. Once you’re finished, then it’s time to bundle up and get those marshmallows roasting!